Centric bite relator



y 1951 H. WILKINSON 2,552,829

CENTRIC BITE RELATOR Filed Jan. 11, 1947 INVENTOR. HMWV Kim 5W AGENT Patented May 15, 1951 UNITED r STATES PATENT FF [cs I ZCENTRIC BITE RELATOR Harry Wilkinson, San. Diego; Calif.

sApplicationJanuary 11, 1947, Serial No. 221,523

'- '5 Claims.

My invention relates to a centric-bite relator,

i moreparticularly for usein establishing centric relation. of both icon'dyle heads inthe glenoid .iossae. in order to properly, fit artificial dentures toan individual-and the, objects of my invention are:

- :First, to provide a centricbite relator of this .class which greatly.facilitatesthe. accurate pro- .duction of artificial dentures to fit an individual W .whiclithas features. normalto all the functioning h positions. ofthe. patientfs. biting. anatomy;

Second, to provide a-,centric bite. relator of, this class which aids the technician. in producing properly fittingdentures with a minimum amount oftrial-and adiustmenm- Third,to provide a..centric bite,r.elator of this 7 class whichaids in the production of, artificial hdentures which .occlude- -perfectly. throughout their entire biting surface;

- Fourth, toprovi-dea centric bite relator. of this class which. aids. in theproduction of proper artificial dentures by substantially eliminatin ab- 1 normal bite conditions ofathelpatient .caused by theloss of teeth which-tend.toassertthemselves .duringthe taking of an. impression preliminary to makingsaid artificial dentures;

. struction,t..efficient in ,operationand which will not readily deteriorate or get. out oforder.

Withfltheseand other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of. partsandportions asi will be hereinafter describedv in detail and a. particularly set forth inthe appendedolaims, reference'being had to the accompanying drawing and to the characters of reference thereon forming a part of this application in which:

Fig. 1 is a top or plan view of my centric bite relator, Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof and Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of my centric bite relator shown in connection with impression plates for maintaining the same in spaced relation to each other in accordance with the normal retruded rest position of the condyle head.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawing.

The screw I, nut 2, attachment member 3 and screw I is provided with an enlarged attachment member 3 at its normally upper end and is provided with a longitudinally adjustable screw threadednut 2 adapted to engage one side of the plate] when in connection with the upper and lower impression plates A and B, respectively, as shown by dash lines in-F'ig. 3 of the'drawing. It will be noted that the plate 4isfreely moveable on the screw I and that the nut 2 provides means for forcing the plate 4 away from the attachment member 3- which is normally fixedto the upper impression plate -A by means of wax or the like. The plate 4 bridges oppositesides of the-impression plate B and supports the nut'Z in substantially the relationshipas'shown inFig. 3 of the drawing.

The operation of my centric bite'relatorissubstantially as follows:

The impression plates A and B are first preparedand the attachment member 3 issecured to the upper impression plate A ll'la; centric location relatively thereto and said impression plates A and B are positioned in'the patients mouth and the nut 2 is adjusted longitudinallypf the screw l until the spaced relationship of the impression plates A and Bindicates a normalrest position of condyle heads of the-patient; This normal rest position is taken preferably by'meas- 'urementof the-'patient from alocation at the intersection of the nose and upper lip to the lower portion of thepatients chin. -This normal rest position isset up and very accurately maintained -by the nut 2 resting on the plate 4 during very *slight pressure-being' exerted thereon by themtient; After the normal rest DOSitiGn'lS set up, plaster is 1 placed intermediate the impression plates A and B whereupon saidirnpression' plates A and B--maybe removedfrom the patients mouth and transferred to a conventional articulator. In the use of my centric bite relator in producing artificial dentures the following conditions should be carefully considered.

The centric relation is the most retruded rest position from which lateral movement is possible and should not be confused with abnormal functioning positions which patients develop for themselves due to the partial loss of teeth pre liminary to taking an impression bite. The tissue and bite surfaces of bite records should occlude perfectly throughout their entire length and the use of my centric bite relator obviates the difficulties encountered in attaining such results.

The plane of orientation and the occlusal plane is an imaginary plane and can be taken through the incisal contact point and the distal of the last molar for signifying the general direction of masticating surfaces in the denture space available. The acceptance of this plane permits more comprehensive alignment of articulation. The mandible functions in an are providing it has no tooth interference and not limited or prevented by extreme overbites. The movements of the mandible are a combination of gliding movements and the chief movement is of the hinge character. Stability of the dentures depends upon the direction of force relatively to the seating surface thereof and to the equilibrium and balance of the supporting tissues. Set of'the teeth should promote simple and precise function} maintain centric relation and give freedom to related movements of the mandible. Therefore it will be seen that balance of the dentures eliminates undue tissue changes and assures stability, thus the employment of my centric bite relator in the production of artificial dentures saves much time and promotes the production of accurately fitting dentures which are very efiicient and comfortable,

Though I have shown and described a particu lar construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: a

1. A centric bite relator comprising the combination of an impression, a plate bridging op-. posite sides of said impression and fixed thereto, a screw freelythreaded in said plate, a nut adjustably screw-threaded on said screw and engageable with said plate, a second impression, one end of said screw provided with attachment means secured in centric relation with said second impression.

2. A centric bite relator comprising the combination of an impression, a bridge plate bridg ing opposite sides of said impression, said bridge plate having an opening substantially at the middle portion thereof, a screw extending through said opening having a head on one end and an attachment means on its opposite end, a nut arranged in screw-threaded-relation to said screw and longitudinally of said screw engaging one side of said bridge plate, a second impression, said attachment means of said screw secured in centric relation with said second impression, whereby movement of said first and second impressions toward each other is limited by contact of said nut with said bridge plate.

3. A centric bite relator comprising the combination of an impression, a bridge plate bridging opposite sides of said impression, said bridge plate having an opening substantially at the middle portion thereof, a screw extending through'said opening having a head on one! end and an attachment means on its opposite end, a nut arranged in screw-threaded relation to said screw and longitudinally of said screw engaging one side of said bridge plate, a second impression, said attachment means of said screw secured in centric relation with said second impression, whereby movement of said first and second impressions toward each other is limited by contact of said nut with said bridge plate, said attachment means being considerably larger in diameter than said screw.

4. A centric bite relator comprising the combination of an impression, a bridge plate bridging opposite sides of said impression, said bridge plate having an opening substantially at the middle portion thereof, a screw extending through said opening having a head on one end and an attachment means on itsopposite end, a nut arranged in screw-threaded relation to said screw and longitudinally of said screw engaging one side of said bridge plate, a second impression, said attachment means of said screw secured in centric relation with saidsecond impression, whereby movement of said first and second impressions toward each other is limited by contact of said nut with said bridge. plate, said attachment. means being considerably larger in diameter than said screw, and at the ex-' opening having externally screw-threaded portions, a nut longitudinally adjustable on said externally screw-threaded portions and attachment means secured to the normally upper end ofv said screw, arranged to be fixed in centric re-,

lation with the other of said pair of impression plates, whereb longitudinal adjustment of said nut on said screw in engagement with said bridge plate maintains certain spaced relationship of said impression plates relatively to each other.

HARRY WILKINSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patenti UNITED STATES PATENTS 

